Long-form, audio-heavy content often loses traction on social feeds where users scroll on mute. The piece needed to overcome the "silent scroll" and hold attention for two full minutes without relying on traditional closed captions that might distract from the emotional weight of the story.
Case Study
Dirt Road
Jaime Harrison for U.S. Senate
A campaign film built around story, memory, and the idea that where people come from still shapes what they fight for. Textured graphics, archival imagery, and symbolic visual moments were used to turn a personal history into something broader: a message about community, progress, and who gets remembered along the way.
RoleMotion Design, Typography, and Visual Design
CategoryCampaign Film
Dirt RoadHover to previewClick for sound
Campaign Film
Overview
A two-minute audio stump speech for Jaime Harrison's U.S. Senate campaign transformed into a dynamic, mobile-first visual narrative.
The Challenge
The Approach
Treating the spoken word as the central visual element. By utilizing kinetic typography paired with mixed-media collage, the text becomes the driving force of the video, creating an active viewing experience that naturally dictates the rhythm of the piece.
The Execution
Layered textures, masking, and dynamic text animation were utilized to establish a rustic, historical aesthetic. The typographic animation is meticulously timed to the pacing and emotional beats of the original audio, resulting in an immersive piece that functions flawlessly with or without sound.
The Outcome
The mobile-first strategy proved highly effective as part of the campaign's broader digital effort. The piece earned a 2021 Reed Award for Best Online Video for a U.S. Senate Campaign (Democratic). (Produced during my tenure at A|L Media.)
What to Notice
Pay attention to how the kinetic typography completely replaces the need for standard closed captions, and how the visual reveals are strategically paced to match the natural cadence and emotional delivery of the speaker.